F1 | Ferrari explains why it did not appeal Lewis Hamilton’s penalty ahead of the Italian GP. Fred Vasseur explained why Ferrari chose not to protest Lewis Hamilton’s grid penalty for Monza.

Fred Vasseur comments on Hamilton’s penalty for Monza

Fred Vasseur has spoken about the grid penalty that Lewis Hamilton will have to serve at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. During the previous weekend at Zandvoort, the Ferrari driver was judged not to have respected the yellow flag conditions during the reconnaissance lap. As a result, he received a five-place grid penalty, which will now be applied at Monza.

This means the race will already start on the back foot for the seven-time world champion, although Hamilton himself has remained positive about the upcoming weekend in Italy.

In a press conference attended by ScuderiaFans.com and other media outlets, Fred Vasseur discussed the situation and admitted that while it is far from ideal, he was not overly concerned. “He doesn’t need advice, he has enough experience to handle these situations,” the Ferrari team principal explained. “Of course, starting with -5 is not ideal, but it’s better at Monza than at Monaco or Zandvoort.”

Why Ferrari did not file an appeal

The question naturally arose as to why Ferrari chose not to lodge an appeal against the decision. The French manager clarified: “We chose not to protest because it is more important to remain focused on performance.”

He also added a personal note on the matter: “I said I didn’t complain, not that I agreed. I thought it was harsh. It would have been more logical to give the penalty straight away, especially as it happened 40 minutes before the start. On top of that, it was based on a subjective rule: ‘slow down’ can mean 10 km/h for one driver and 100 for another. For the future we need clear limits—if you exceed them, it’s a penalty; if you don’t, then it isn’t.”

Despite his criticism of the way the situation was handled, Fred Vasseur made it clear that he did not want to spark unnecessary controversy: “I don’t want to create polemics, I want to stay focused on my job.” – the Ferrari team principal concluded.

The Italian Grand Prix weekend now gets underway with Friday’s free practice sessions. Fans should also take note of the ongoing strike that could complicate travel to the Autodromo di Monza. Stay tuned for the full session schedule and updates throughout the weekend.